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In Caroline Greyl’s interview, she briefly mentions French hairdresser Alexandre de Paris as one of the reasons the French seem to have such a passion for glamorous, haute couture hair. Read on to learn more about this legend.

Alexandre de Paris was born Louis Alexandre Raimon in 1922 in St. Tropez. He is one of the first hairdressers to turn hair into a form of art, and worked with the premier design houses and biggest starlets. His list of clients included Elizabeth Taylor (he created her iconic Cleopatra hair), Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Greta Garbo. The fashion houses he worked with included Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, among countless others.

He is credited as the creator of the chignon-as-art hairstyle, one of the most iconic and popular formal updos, even now. In fact, one of his most memorable works was placing diamonds in First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s chignon at a 1961 dinner at the Chateau de Versailles.

Alexandre passed away in 2008, but his legacy and contribution to the world of hair will not be forgotten.